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Barbara Canavan
interviewed by Anthony Qaiyum on December 18, 1995
"Don't just pick the package deal to Cancun because it's cheap and it gets you there."
Barbara is the director and founder of EarthWise Journeys, a custom travel service specializing in socially responsible travel.
Tripod: Can you explain, briefly, the concept of socially responsible travel?
BC: Socially responsible travel is travel that benefits the people that live in the country, whether that be financially or socially. It's the opposite of the multinational mega-hotels which benefit only those multinational countries which have business in those countries.
Tripod: Looking at the EarthWise Web site, it seems that part of socially responsible travel is curbing "ugly American" attitudes, while the other part is being more actively involved in social change. Which do you think is more important?
BC: Well, they're both important. But I think for the average traveler, perhaps curbing the ugly American syndrome is far easier to do. With some simple guidelines about how to behave in a particular culture and what to expect for that culture, everyone can, and should, become more educated. With the more social and more proactive things, probably only a few people will ultimately get to that point.
Tripod: What would you say to the average working person who wants to have a relaxing vacation on the beach and maybe enjoy a little nightlife? Can you do this and still be socially responsible?
BC: I think you can -- if you choose places that are designed to work well with the environment, are run by local people, sort of home-based. Then, yes. There isn't any reason that you can't enjoy a setting like that and still feel that you're experiencing that particular place or beach in its much more natural setting, as opposed to something more artificial.
Tripod: So responsible travel isn't just a luxury for someone who has enough money?
BC: Oh no. No. With all of the millions of dollars that are spent on travel, I really think that it's a responsibility for every person to look at these issues. That's why I have a whole page devoted to "What is socially responsible travel." So at least people will come away with a few guidelines about the small things they can do. Don't just pick the package deal to Cancun because it's cheap and it gets you there. Think about who runs it. Who owns it? What's the position of the people in the community? The position of women? Who works there at substandard wages? Those kinds of things.
Tripod: Would you say that Americans, in general, have a selfish notion of travel?
BC: From my experience, I think it's changing. I think that people really are becoming much more aware. Of course I'm dealing with the portion of the population that is very sensitive to these things, because that's the niche that I'm in. So naturally I would feel that "Gee, there're so many people that are aware." But I do see it growing. And I see EarthWise Journeys growing. So I think it's starting to make a difference for sure.
Tripod: Can you explain to me how you customize trips for your customers? Is it by interest, or by region?
BC: It really varies. Some people say, "I've got X amount of time, and I want to go to Africa." Every person is different, and I would say that in our database, we search by both activity and location. And although we do run some of our own trips, most of them are from tour operators that we screen and have relationships with, that meet our criteria. So we sponsor their trips.
The interesting thing that happens is that I'll get contacted from people in, say Chile, who are operating some very good values within the country. I'll put that on the list to give people an option. It's not always American companies at all. In fact it's less and less American companies all the time.
Tripod: I'm interested in Brazil, but I don't really know much about it. I know I like some Brazilian music. How would you begin to help me, for instance?
BC: I would go over the trips that are available in Brazil. If you like Brazilian music, I would find out if you're interested in going to Carnivale which is coming up in February -- see what's available. I would find out if you were interested in the Amazon -- make arrangements. I would suggest either something that's loosely packaged, or a series of things that one can do independently in Brazil. So there would be an option of both independent and prepackaged things. More and more people are wanting to do the independent things.
Tripod: How many trips do you have overall?
BC: Oh boy. It changes everyday. Hundreds. There's just stacks that I haven't entered into the Web yet. I try to change the site once a week and add these things -- and take things away. But there's really a lot available. You can go to Costa Rica and have art and nature classes. From our perspective the most important thing is that in today's society, which is fairly high pressure, your vacation time or sabbatical time almost has to be transformative for you to get a perspective on what's going on in the rest of your life.
Tripod: That's really interesting.
BC: That's the whole basis of it. That it's transformative, meaningful, and not plastic. It's more than a vacation. I have so many people who go on volunteer trips, because they can't afford to take two years off and join the Peace Corps, but they really need to give something back. So, what we provide is a resource and a clearinghouse. And we'll also help them book the trip, but more than anything we're a resource and a clearinghouse for that type of information.
For more information, visit EarthWise Journeys on the Web at:
http://www.teleport.com/~earthwyz/
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